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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. ALLGROVE. FIRE ESCAPE No. 414,476.Patented Nov. 5, 1889.

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(No Model.) 3 SheetQ-Sheet 2. H. ALLGROVE.

FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 414,476. Patented Nov. 5. 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

HERBERT ALLGROVE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Fl RE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 414,476, dated November5, 1889. Application filed August 22', 1889. Serial No. 321,574. (Nomodel.)

To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERBERT ALLGROVE, a citizen of England, residing atNew York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements infire-escapes.

The object I have in view is to provide an escape of the characterdescribed which may be at all times ready for use, being located in anyroom of a dwelling or in public buildings, preferably in the hallway,where it may be used by all the occupants of the building, such escapebeing simple in construction, effbictive in its operation, and strongand dura- To the accomplishment of the above the invention consists inproviding a series of telescopic ladders placed in a horizontal planeand adapted to be extended so as to protrude a suitable distance fromthe building, such ladders preferably extending out of the window of thebuilding in which the fire-escape is used.

This invention further consists in providing a carriage or car mountedupon an endless rope or ropes and adapted to carry persons escaping fromthe building to the outer ends of the ladders when extended.

The invention further consists in a second set of endless ropes, uponwhich the car or carriage above referred to may be mounted, this secondseries of ropes being adapted to use by the last person leaving thebuilding.

The invention further consists in providing a basket or car hung uponcounterweighted ropes and adapted to descend from the outer ends of theladders to the ground, all of which will be hereinafter fully describedand specifically claimed, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 represents the escape in perspective and inposition for use; Fig. 2, a per spective view of the escape, taken fromthe front; Fig. 3, a perspective view of the escape onan enlarged scale,certain parts loo-- ing broken away; and Fig. l, a detail of the car orcarriage traveling from the building to the outer ends of theextension-ladders and mounted on endless ropes.

Like letters refer to like parts in each' side the housingA is providedwith abracket O, in which the several ladders forming the series which Iuse are adapted to be moved,

such brackets being of a suitable size to accommodate all such ladderswhen pushed back and not in use. These ladders, which I have marked D inthe drawings, (in which three are shown,) may be of any suitableconstruction and form, and of any suitable material, .the only specialconstruction in connection therewith being the provision of any suitablenumber of collars or sleeves E, surrounding the same and serving asguides for the different sections. Each ladder is also provided with asuitable spring-catch 0,

(shown in Fig. 1,) over which the adjacent section of the entire ladderpasses and by which it is locked in position. Each section of the ladderis also provided with braceropes F, each set of which extends from itssection of the ladder back to a frame G, mounted upon the upper end ofthe housing A.

Mounted in the sides of the housing A is a shaft H, provided at one endwith a suitable crank-arm and carrying at points within the housing twopulleys J.

Situated in suitable bearings beneath the floor of the housing is ashaft K, upon which are mounted two rollers K, these roll ers K being inthe same vertical plane as the rollers J, hereinbefore referred to.

At the outer end of the forward extension of the ladders are mounted tworollers J L L represent two endless ropes, one of which passes over onepulley J, one pulley K, and one pulley J, the remaining endless rope Lpassing over the remaining pulleys J, K, and J.

For the escape of persons from a burning building I provide a suitablecar or carriage, which consists of the seat Q and suitable supports Q,there being preferably four of the latter, as shown in Fig. 4 of thedrawings, each of which is provided at its upper endwith a hook or anysuitable spring-catch which will adapt this carriage or car to besuspended from the endless ropes L, the car being secured in this mannerto such ropes after they have passed around the rollers K, being thusmounted upon what may be called the lower ropes. NVhen it is desired toadvance the car or carriage from the house to the outer ends of theladders, it is attached to these endless ropes L, and the crank of theshaft II is turned in a direction from the window, which will cause thelower part of the ropes L to advance toward the outer end of theladders, and thereby carry the car to such point. After the occupant ofthe car 'has left it, or where valuables are being trans: ported, assoon as they are moved from this car it can be returned to the buildingby reversing the revolutions of the crank and its shaft.

The forward end of the bottom of thehousing A is cut away, as shown inFig. 2 of the drawings, and in such cut-away portion is mounted a shaftM, carrying two rollers N, around each of which an endless rope P ispassed, each such rope also passing over a roller N, mounted at theouter end of the forward extension of the ladders. These ropes lastabove described are adapted for use by the last person leaving thebuilding, the manner of their use being to detach the car or carriagefrom the ropes L and secure it to the upper ropes P. The person desiringto escape then enters the carriage, and by grasping the lower pair ofropes P, pulling them toward his person, advances the car toward theouter ends of the ladders.

At the outer end of the forward extension of the ladders there are alsoprovided two rollers R, over each of which a rope S is passed, one endof each such rope being connected with a basket T, and the other endofeach being counterbalanced by a weight S. The object of theselast-named ropes and the basket connected therewith is to enable theperson escaping from the building, after having been carried to theouter ends of theladders by means of the car Q, to enter such basket T,and thereby reach the ground in safety, such basket, after the personhas entered it, descending to the ground by its own weight, its downwardmovements being regulated by the weights S, secured to the free endsofthe ropes S.

In using this device the housing A, with the contracted ladders D, isrolled' back or away from the window of the room or hall in which ispulled out with its section. The

housing is then moved forward to within convenient distance of thewindow and the ladders extended out beyond the building.

The entire device is then looked securely in position by means of thechains or hooks secured to the floor and to the frame-work, ashereinbefore described.

When there is no need of the device, it is unlocked from the floor andagain pushed back into the room, drawing with it the extension-ladders,which are then forced back, the spring-lock of each section beingpressed down as said section is pushed back.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new thereinis' 1. In a fire-escape, the combination, with a stand or frame-workprovided with brackets, of a series of ladders each provided withsleeves and spring-catches and arranged to telescope one within theothers, and braceropes, one set for each ladder, as and for the purposeset forth.

2. In a fire-escape, the combination, with a stand or frame-work, ashaft mounted therein, and pulleys mounted 011 said shaft, of anextension-ladder, pulleys mounted in the outer end thereof, and endlessropes passing over the pulleys named, and a detachable car mounted uponsaid endless ropes, as and. for the purpose set forth.

3. In a fire-escape, the combination, with a stand or frame-work, ashaft provided with a crank-arm and pulleys, a second shaft situatedbelow the first shaft and in the same vertical plane, andpulleys mountedthereon, of an extension-ladder, pulleys mounted on the outer end ofsaid ladder, endless ropes passing over the pulleys named, and adetachable car mounted upon said endless ropes, as and for the purposeset forth.

4. In a fire-escape, the combination, with a stand or frame-work, of anextension-ladder connected therewith, pulleys mounted on the outer endof said ladder, a basket or car, and counterbalanced ropes, said ropespassing over the pulleys named and connected with the car, as and forthe purpose set forth.

5. In a fire-escape, the combination, with-a stand or frame-work, of anextension-ladder connected therewith, pulleys mounted on the outer endof said ladder, a basket or car, and ropes, said ropes passing over thepulleys named and connected with the car, as andfor the purpose setforth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HERBERT ALLGROVE.

lVitnesses:

GEO. W. M. LEANARD, M. E. LEANARD.

